CHAPTER 42 COUPLING STOKES AND CNOIDAL WAVE THEORIES IN A NONLINEAR REFRACTION MODEL Thomas A. Hardy1, A.M. ASCE Nicholas C. Kraus2, M. ASCE ABSTRACT An efficient numerical model is presented for calculating the refraction and shoaling of finite-amplitude waves over an irregular sea bottom. The model uses third-order Stokes wave theory in relatively deep water and second-order cnoidal wave theory in relatively shallow water. It can also be run using combinations of lower-order wave theories, including a pure linear wave mode. The problem of the connection of Stokes and cnoidal theories is investigated, and it is found that the use of second-order rather than first-order cnoidal theory greatly reduces the connection discontinuity. Calculations are compared with physical model measurements of the height and direction of waves passing over an elliptical shoal. The finite-amplitude wave model gives better qualitative and quantitative agreement with the measurements than the linear model. INTRODUCTION Wave transformation models are commonly used in coastal engineering projects to provide nearshore wave height and direction. This information is needed at specified grid locations for input into nearshore circulation and shoreline change numerical models. Often, multiple simulations over a wide geographical area are required. Small-amplitude (linear) wave theory is the basis for almost all wave transformation models presently in engineering use. It is well known that finite-amplitude (nonlinear) wave theories predict greater shoaling and less refraction than does small-amplitude theory, and the nearshore wave properties predicted by nonlinear theories are expected to provide an improved description of real waves transforming in shallow water. However, the dual requirements of accuracy (finite-amplitude theories) and efficiency (minimal computer CPU time) have been thought to be contradictory. Also, finite-amplitude wave transformation models have proven complicated and difficult to develop. There are three main challenges in developing a finite-amplitude wave refraction model. First, if computationally intensive, numerically based wave theories are to be avoided, two perturbation theories are necessary, Stokes for deeper water and cnoidal for shallower water. Mutually consistent solutions are essential, and expressions must be available for secondary quantities such as wave energy flux. Second, efficient and accurate calculation of cnoidal wave theory is necessary. Finally, the connection between (1) Department of Civil and Systems Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4811, (2) Senior Research Scientist, Coastal Engineering Research Center, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, P.O. Box 631, Vicksburg, MS, USA 39180-0631 588 NONLINEAR REFRACTION MODEL 589 the two theories has to be optimized. The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical model which accurately and efficiently calculates finite-amplitude wave refraction over an irregular sea bottom. The outputs of the model are wave height and wave direction at each grid node for a steady state monochromatic wave. The model is intended for engineering use where a number of simulations are required and information is desired over a large area of open-ocean coast. LITERATURE REVIEW Two of the earlier efforts in the study of finite-amplitude wave transformation treated shoaling of cnoidal waves. Svendsen and Brink-Kjaer (1973) connected first-order cnoidal theory with linear theory to develop a wave shoaling equation. They imposed the requirement of a matching energy flux to connect the two theories. Svendsen and Buhr- Hansen (1977) continued the study of shoaling by altering the connection to allow a discontinuity in energy flux but maintaining a matching wave height between linear theory for deeper water and first-order cnoidal theory for shallower water. The theories were connected at d/L0 =0.1, where d is depth and L0 is the linear deep water wavelength. Cnoidal theory predicted greater shoaling than linear theory and there was good agreement with laboratory measurements of wave height. The first finite-amplitude refraction model for an irregular bathymetry was presented by Chu (1975). He used a combination of third-order Stokes and first-order cnoidal wave theories. He avoided the need of an expression for energy flux for cnoidal theory by using the flux from the hyperbolic wave theory of Iwagaki (1968) for the calculation of wave shoaling. Ray tracing was used to calculate refraction. The connection between Stokes and cnoidal theories was at a critical Ursell number, Uc, given by t/c=7.5+25| (1) where H is wave height. Stokes theory was used if the Ursell number, (2) was less than Uc and cnoidal theory used if U > Uc > where L is wavelength A finite-amplitude refraction model applicable to straight and parallel bottom contours was developed by Skovgaard and Petersen (1977). The model employed first-order cnoidal theory, and the authors suggested that it should be connected to a linear model if U > 15 and d/L0 < 0.1 by matching energy flux at the connection. Headland and Chu (1985) built upon the above-mentioned work of Svendsen and Brink-Kjaer and Svendsen and Buhr-Hansen, to develop a refraction model for nonplane bathymetry using ray tracing techniques. They reported that problems in the connection between linear and first-order cnoidal theories, as well as inefficiencies in the calculation of cnoidal wave properties, required further research. Oh and Grosch (1985) presented a refraction model which was based on third-order Stokes theory and used ray tracing methods. However, they incorrectly applied the model to shallow water, outside the region of validity of Stokes theory (Kraus, Cialone, and Hardy, 1987a). 590 COASTAL ENGINEERING— 1988 Dalrymple (1988) presented a model with a solution scheme similar to the one presented in this paper and previous work by the authors (Cialone and Kraus, 1987; Hardy and Kraus, 1987; and Kraus, Cialone, and Hardy, 1987). Wave-current interaction was included, but the use of finite-amplitude theory was inconsistent. Wavelength was calculated using third-order Stokes theory with an empirical correction applied to allow calculation in shallow water. However, the finite-amplitude effect on wave shoaling was incorrectly represented since a mixture of linear and nonlinear theories was used in the calculation of wave energy flux. NUMERICAL MODEL The model presented in this paper is based on derivations of third-order Stokes theory and second-order cnoidal theory of Isobe and Kraus (1983a, 1983b). These derivations are consistent in definitions and solution technique; both specify the second definition of Stokes (zero mass flux) to determine the wave celerity. The model builds on separate refraction models for Stokes waves (Cialone and Kraus, 1987) and cnoidal waves (Hardy and Kraus, 1987). Expressions for energy flux which are necessary for wave height calculations and the basic solution mechanics were developed in these previous efforts. The present model, called NLWAVE for Non-Linear WAVE model, refines a preliminary version (Kraus, Cialone, and Hardy, 1987b) by adopting an improved finite difference scheme and optimizing the connection between the component theories. The difficulty in the calculation of cnoidal quantities has been a deterrent to the practical application of cnoidal wave theory. Subroutines in computer libraries and formulae found in mathematics handbooks for the calculation of needed elliptic functions cannot be directly used in cnoidal wave theory. The result has often been inefficient and inaccurate calculations. NLWAVE uses the method developed by Isobe (1985) for first- order cnoidal theory and extended to expressions for second-order cnoidal theory by Hardy and Kraus (1987). The procedure allows the efficient and accurate calculation of cnoidal wave properties. The model uses a compact and direct technique for the calculation of wave refraction, which was introduced for linear waves by Noda et al. (1974). This scheme allows the determination of wave properties at predetermined grid locations and thus offers a distinct advantage over wave ray tracing methods which require interpolation to provide information at grid points. The solution technique can be divided into three parts. First, wavelength is calculated using the dispersion relationship of the appropriate wave theory (third-order Stokes or second-order cnoidal). Second, wave angle is determined using the equation for the irrotationality of wave number, which can be written as V x V/fc = 0 3 j sin a j d ( cos a \ _ ^\ 3*' L I dy\ L where k is wave number, a is wave angle, and the directions x and y are as defined in Figure 1. And third, energy flux, F, and thus wave height, H, are determined from a conservation of energy flux equation given as NONLINEAR REFRACTION MODEL 591 V'F=0 3 3 — (Fcos a) + (Fsin a) = 0 (4) dx dy where H~ VF (5) Energy flux expressions for Stokes and cnoidal wave theories used in NLWAVE were derived in Cialone and Rraus (1987) and Hardy and Kraus (1987). I-1J-1 l-l, j 1-1,J + l AX i.J-l l.J U + i x Ay Figure 1. Numerical Model Grid Equations 3 and 4 are solved on a rectilinear grid (Figure 1) using a finite difference scheme. The desired wave properties are functions of wave height, H, wave period, T, and water depth, d. The depth is specified at each grid point and does not change during a simulation. Outer boundary information for H and T is given. This input can either be placed directly at the outer boundary, or deepwater values can be transformed to the outer boundary of the grid assuming straight and parallel bottom contours. The solution scheme marches towards shore (in the -x direction) one row (i = constant) at a time. Each row is swept in the +y direction. Since wave properties are functions of wave height in a finite-amplitude wave theory, iteration is required on each row. The dispersion relationship, the irrotationality of wave number (Equation 3), and the divergence of energy flux equation (Equation 4) are solved for L, a, and F, respectively, using an updated value of wave height.